Offroad bikes, there seems to be a lack

Well, mountain bike builds are not uncommon - yet it seems not that many trail ride... I could be wrong lol

If you've seen the SCSW BoXer: YouTube - Santa Cruz Scooter Works BoXer II forum thread here: http://motorbicycling.com/f23/new-full-suspension-scsw-boxer-7689.html then you've prolly seen the best

My bike isn't anywhere near as awesome, nor do I have a rear suspension or even a jackshaft - but I offroad it all the time. The exhaust is in danger from rock strikes where it's mounted and I need to help it through the knarliest stuff by pedaling a bit (need the jackshaft lol).

Sadly I don't usually bring my camera with me when I hit the tough stuff, but here is a few pics from my "shortcut" home from work (the one that adds 20min to a 10min commute ) - thus the cargo on the back.



What bike are you planning on using? What are the trails like where you're at? Lookin' forward to pics

Dirtroads are ideal for the stock bikes but on the trails I need more gears.

True that man! I'm usually exhausted after beatin' up myself and my bike, the trails around here are rough - those pics above are just the mellow path I take to get out some work stress

Gears arn't a prob tho - I'll be gettin' this sooner or later lol;
Sick Bike Parts

Barely nice bike and setup, with my friction drive I putt around some dirt trails and its fun. No motocross mind you but just nice easy trails, hills arent a problem unless its just too steep and if its WET forget it friction is useless in the mud.

BarelyAWake said:

True that man! I'm usually exhausted after beatin' up myself and my bike, the trails around here are rough - those pics above are just the mellow path I take to get out some work stress

Gears arn't a prob tho - I'll be gettin' this sooner or later lol;
Sick Bike Parts

Click to expand...

First time I saw that its been almost my number one goal to get me a setup like that. I don't care if it cost more then my bike and motor, as soon as I have the money....

SBP is selling a nice rear cluster now with a extra large low gear. Looked to me like it would be perfect for the steeps.

Thanks bandito! Yeah, I like puttin' trails - like it a lot actually, but almost all the stuff around here I gotta fly to get through as I don't have the gearing to crawl.

Or I pedal... It's all rocks and roots, muck and water. Brine swamp doom or granite - your pick.

Outa post a pic of yer bike ona trail here! I wanna see it and the stuff ya ride and it might get a few others goin' lol

Offroading... the usual problem with this is that the chain hits the chain stays on the frame. I see there are 2 ways of resolving this, design a frame that the chain would not hit the chain stays, or use an internal gear hub, so a derailer is not required. what do you think?

Pedro - sounds like you gota heck of a build in the works, can't wait to see yer creation! It's true that if I was willing to load up my bike for a 2hr car trip (or ride my bike for 4 lol) there's actually quite the selection of trails here too, inland Maine has some great stuff. I envy the farm tracks you have "locally" - we grow only rocks here

Thanks for the complement lol - much of the utilitarian look is prolly the bags & gear on the back, the lil cargo box is one of the the puters I use for work. As it's value exceeds that of my bike I don't usually hit the trails w/it cept that mellow path. I'm resisting gettin' tow hooks and a winch - but I do hava a snorkel lol


Technocyclist - interesting you should mention the chainstays, while I don't have a prob with the pedal drive side I do have an issue with the engine drive chain not clearing unless I reroute it further back with the tensioner. I suspect my pedal side simply has beefy rear derailleur springs... maybe it IS hitting I dunno, but I've never heard it or seen any chafe, which would show clearly on an aluminum frame like mine.

I'd say simply having a frame where the chainstays aren't an issue. While many have used the internal gear hubs with great success onroad - I dunno if it'd take the pounding offroad. There is also the need for as many low gears as reasonably possible, I'm particularly lookin' forward to my "granny gears" when I do manage to get a jack shaft.

As I see it, the biggest prob with the derailleur is smackin' it upside a rock. I've somehow managed to avoid that for now but it is inevitable. Luckily - I have a few spares

BarelyAWake said:

I'd say simply having a frame where the chainstays aren't an issue. While many have used the internal gear hubs with great success onroad - I dunno if it'd take the pounding offroad. There is also the need for as many low gears as reasonably possible, I'm particularly lookin' forward to my "granny gears" when I do manage to get a jack shaft.

As I see it, the biggest prob with the derailleur is smackin' it upside a rock. I've somehow managed to avoid that for now but it is inevitable. Luckily - I have a few spares

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There is one internal gear hub meant for offroad, the Shimano Alfine, it has a triple clutch, unlike any other internal gear hubs. The SRAM i-motion has a version of this, but I think it still meant for on road use.

Links or it didn't happen!


Shimano Alfine - Google Product Search

300 bucks??!? O.O

It is very shiny tho... *drools*

hey man thats some seriously nice setup you have i love the exhaust and air filter it looks like the only think that will die is the engine and there cheap for the amount off fun you get out of them!

Thanks TorqinDirty

The expansion chamber exhaust is from Sick Bike Parts and it's ossum!;
Sick Bike Parts

The remote airbox is my own creation of desperation, simple & cheap;
http://motorbicycling.com/f4/remote-airbox-intake-silencing-cheap-10967.html

Actually - the engine is doin' really well, I've been impressed - but yeah yer right, it's easy nuff to rebuild/replace should I ever need to I've actually had it up to the head in water while it was runnin' (missed a turn oops) and although both the exhaust and carburetor were under I just kept revvin' it till I got out. I woulda swamped it had I let it stall and/or I had the stock air filter on it.

The mag did take in some water - it wouldn't have lasted long, but I had just "nosed in" so I got out quick. I prolly outa make a better mag cover gasket

*shrug* Got home, hosed the muck offn it and dried/regreased everything - no probs with it since My wheelset is wimpy, they're not even double walled - another thing on my infinite shopping list...

i have to admit man, once i got a gander at your bike i set off far away from beach cruiser land.

picked up a 21 speed MTB on sunday, it should be finished today. Stock kit or now.... id wait another few weeks for other goodies but. its getting a little nippy to be pedalling my norco to work in a headwind every day.

ill surely put a pic in here (i have a pretty sweet looking fron half fender/shroud i picked up when i got the bike)

hopefully i wont have any real disasterous problems when i go to route the drive side chain this afternoon!

Don't blame me Humsuckler lol - you've got mud in yer blood if ya like the looks of my bike!

I will say that the beachers one up the mountain bikes on distance comfort and just plain style, but there's somethin' about a machine built strictly for purpose - a style of function can have it's own grace.

I will admit I'm gonna paint it this winter as I don't like 'Schwinn' painted/pasted/stitched on every square inch... I'm such a fashion slave.


I gotta whole slew o'questions for ya - what bike, aluminum/steel, what engine, plans etc. - but I suppose I'd better wait fer your pics lol

BarelyAWake said:

Links or it didn't happen!

Shimano Alfine - Google Product Search

300 bucks??!? O.O

It is very shiny tho... *drools*

Click to expand...

Hi BA,

Here's a link that compares SRam I-motion 9 with Shimano Alfine...
SRAM / i-MOTION 9 Hubstripping.com

For the price, I think it's quite reasonable compared with Nuvinci which is very heavy, and the Rohloff which is 4 times the price.

In case you're wondering, I just got the Shimano Alfine and have been using it for about a month or so. It's quite tricky installing it, even with the instruction manual. But so far, no issues. You do need to have low friction gear cables to prevent psossible damage to the hub, which was my mistake when I was still using a Sturmey Archer hub. I think it would be more expensive to have it repaired, so I just replaced it with a Shimano Alfine. Let's see how it goes...